Smoking pipe and preformed charge combination

ABSTRACT

A tobacco smoking pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination are provided wherein the tobacco smoking pipe is modified in such a manner that a short preformed tobacco rod type charge which is encased in an impermeable but combustible sleeve and which is partially covered by metal foil may be seated centrally therein, so as to allow up draft circulation of air around said charge through a plurality of holes which are provided through the foil portion bowl above the charge seat, which is located internally in the base of the aforesaid pipe bowl.

United States Patent Beam [451 Oct. 16,1973

1 1 SMOKING PIPE AND PREFORlVlED CHARGE COMBINATION [76] Inventor: Jon w. Beam, 510 E. Cherry St.,

Cushing, Okla. 74023 [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 243,144

'v jlu 'lllllllll w 2,162,077 6/1939 Gilliam 131/3 2,937,648 5/1960 Meyer 131/3 2,991,788 7/1961 Brost 131/3 3,625,227 12/1971 Fether .1: 131/3 x Primary Examiner.loseph S. Reich [57] ABSTRACT A tobacco smoking pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination are provided wherein the tobacco smoking pipe is modified in such a manner that a short preformed tobacco rod type charge which is encased in an impermeable but combustible sleeve and which is partially covered by metal foil may be seated centrally therein, so as to allow up draft circulation of air around said charge through a plurality of holes which are provided through the foil portion bowl above the charge seat, which is located internally in the base of the aforesaid pipe bowl.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SMOKING PIPE AND PREFORMED CHARGE COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Considerable effort has been previously expended by inventors in attempts to overcome the undesirable features of pipe smoking. Little has been accomplished however because in most cases the basic principals of combustion of the tobacco within the pipe bowl has remained unchanged'These basic principals of combustion which are well known obviously leave much to be desired inasmuch as oxygen supply to the zone of combustion is for the most part dependent on the smoker drawing at frequent intervals on the pipe stem, otherwise the pipe will go out and require relighting. This condition becomes progressively worse as the tobacco ash residue builds above the zone of combustion. The result may be a rather hot, strong and unpleasant smoke with a considerable loss of tobacco which never burns. In addition, since the burning tobacco charge is in direct contact with the inner sidewall of the pipe bowl, excessive heat may be transmitted to the pipe bowl which carries on into the stem section by conduction. Furthermore a tar residue builds on the inner side wall of the pipe bowl which requires frequent scraping and cleaning. Another objectionable feature of conventional pipe smoking is the constant hazard of burned or soiled clothing, rugs and car upholstery 'with live sparks or tobacco ash. This problem is especially great when the pipe smoker attempts to drive a car with windows open or the heater or air conditioner fan in operation. In this regard the smoking driver also finds that it is extremely difficult and dangerous to load or empty a pipe while his vehicle is in motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a' modified pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination which will provide desirable combustion characteristics of burning tobacco within a smoking pipe.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed combination wherein the oxygen supply to the pipe is not primarily dependent upon the smoker drawing on the pipe stem.

It is still further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination wherein combustion can be maintained for lengthy periods of time without the smoker drawing, thus eliminating the need for frequent relighting.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed tobacco pipe charge combination wherein the burning tobacco charge is not in contact with the inner side wall of the pipe bowl, thus reducing the heat which is transmitted to the pipe.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination which will significantly reduce the need for pipe.

bowl cleaning.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination which will reduce the hazard of burned or soiled clothing, rugs, car upholstery etc. which may result from pipe smoking.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modified pipe and preformed tobacco charge combination which will make pipe smoking more practical for operators of motor vehicles.

These together with otherv objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In accordance with the basic embodiment 'of the invention a short cyclinderical tobacco charge is formed by compressing tobacco within an impermeable but combustible sleeve which in most cases will be cigarette type paper, however it can be tobaccoleaf such as is used for cigar wrapping or other material. The thusly formed short cylindrical charge segment is then wrapped vertically with a thin perforated metal foil strip wherein the two ends of the metal foil strip are locked together centrally as a folded tab at the top of the aforesaid charge segment. This perforated metal foil strip provides means whereby the burning rate and heat output of the tobacco charge may be readily controlled. These facts can be understood since the metal foil strip decreases the combustible surface area of the tobacco charge. Without the addition of the metal foil strip, which in most cases will be aluminum'cooking foil, the tobacco charge burns too fast and excessive smoke and heat result. The perforations in the metal foil strip are provided so that the open top and bottom ends of the charge are not sealed off by the addition of the metal foil strip. I find that by using a metal foil strip wherein the width and size of the perforations therein limit the metal foil covering of the charge to about 60 to 80 percent of the total surface area of the charge will give good results. The previously recited locking tab formed by locking the ends of the metal foil strip together centrally at the top of the charge not only secures the metal foil strip to the charge without the use of adhesives, but it also forms a convenient means whereby the charge or ash residue may be inserted in or removed from the pipe bowl with a thumb and forefinger hold.

Discussion of the modified pipe is not believed to be needed in-this summary section of the invention other than to point out that providing draft holes in the pipe bowl will give improved combustion and results in less heat being transmitted to the pipe. This is due to the fact that as updraft circulation of air around the burning pipe charge is increased, more heat is dissipated into the air above the pipe bowl. Furthermore it should also be pointed out that since the modified pipe is impractical without the use of the preformed pipe charge and since the preformed pipe charge is impractical in any type of pipe other than the modified pipe of the invention, that both must be considered in combination as one invention and not as two separate inventions.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 Illustrates in sectional side elevation a tobacco smoking pipe with the preformed tobacco charge seated therein.

FIG. 2 Illustrates ,in vertical side elevation looking downward at a thirty degree angle an enlarged view of the preformed pipecharge as is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Is similar to FIG. 2 with the completed preformed tobacco charge tilted backward at a 45 angle exposing a bottom view of the assembly.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to F 1G. 1. The cavity 2 within the pipe bowl has been reamed vertically approximately-75 percent of total depth at which point 3 it is beveledat a 45 angle to form the charge seat 4 which is at least V4 inch less in diameter than the upper pipe bowl section 2. The aforesaid dimensions are not critical and can be varied considerably. it should also be pointed out that in order to ream a pipe bowl as indicated that it must initially have a conical shaped inner side wall. A plurality of air draft holes 5 are provided in the side wall of the pipe bowl immediately above beveled section 3. Again the size and number of these holes 5 is not critical, however the combined area of holes Sshould be sufficient so as to allow unrestricted circulation of air upward around the pipe charge. Of course it is not desirable to size and space holes 5 so as to significantly weaken the pipe bowl structurally. l find that eight three sixteenth inch diametered holes will give good results, and that arranging these in ring like relationship in two rows is desirable. It should be pointed out that limiting air circulation around the pipe charge either by lack of space between the charge and the inner side wall of the pipe bowl or lack of sufficient draft hole area will reduce the advantages of the invention, the primary undesirable result being the transmittal of excessive heat to the pipe bow].

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, in constructing the preformed tobacco pipe charges I use sections of cigarette papers which are trimmed to 1% inches in width and 2% inches in length to form the relatively impermeable but combustible side wall 9 of the charge. The cigarette paper section is wrapped lengthwise around the end of a short thin wall tubular mandrel which is slightly less than five eighths inches in diameter and sealed with non-toxic vegetable glue so as to form a short paper cylinder. Without removing the aforesaid papercylinder from the mandrel l loop a perforated strip of aluminum cooking foil 12 which is 4% .of an inch in length and 9/16 inch in width lengthwise around theend of the paper covered mandrel end. Then while holding the two ends of the aluminum foil strip centrally in alignment with the mandrel and in contact with it, l press the assembly into a short tubular section which has an internal diameter of inch and a flared upstream end.

7 Subsequently a sufficient amount of tobacco .8 to exactly fill the cigarette paper sleeve 9 when firmly packed is fed into the upstream end of the mandrel and the tobacco is firmly packed with a wood rod which will fit loosely internally within the mandrel. The tobacco charge is pressed out of the down stream end of the aforesaid mandrel along with paper sleeve 9 which now encases the tobacco charge 8 and metal foil strip 12 which forms a partial downstream closure of the paper encased tobacco charge and is molded in intimate contact to the side walls thereof. The ends of metal foil strip 12 which as previously noted and illustrated is perforated lengthwise by a row of small holes 13 are now folded as illustrated in H6. 3 'thus locking metal foil strip 12 in place and forming a partial upstream closure of the charge assembly as well as forming holding tab ll. The preformed charge thusly completed will be five eigths of one inch in diameter. However, the charge size is not critical and it is not my intention to limit the preformed charge size. The foregoing has merely been presented as illustrative of how a suitable charge may be prepared for a pipe having an internal bowl diameter of one inch and a seat diameter of five eighths of one inch. Other pipe bowl and charge sizes may be substituted with good results so long as the approximate size relationship is maintained. Holes 13 in metal foil strip l2'are provided to eliminate the possibility of excessive restriction of the open end of the preformed charge and also to provide additional oxygen supply to the burning tobacco within the charge as the paper charge covering 9 which blocks the aforesaid holes'13 is consumed by combustion. Although considerable detail has been devoted to manual construction of the preformed tobacco pipe charges, it is anticipated that for the most part these charges will be machine manufactured by modified cigarette manufacturing equipment. In which case a continuous paper wrapped tobacco rod would be formed, being of larger diameter than cigarettes, but cut into shorter segments. These operations will present no special problems to that portion of the tobacco industry which is presently engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes since they are well skilled in the technique of such operations.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principals of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully and completely described the invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tobacco pipe assembly comprising a vertically disposed bowl having a base and a stem and bit extending horizontally therefrom and a preformed tobacco charge adapted to be seated centrally within the base, said bowl having a wall having a plurality of holes therethrough and providing a relatively large cavity arranged above said seat in said base whereby said charge is spaced from said wall within said cavity, said charge having a relatively impermeable and combustible primary side wall forming a container and having a metal foil strip looped vertically therearound, said strip having a pair of ends extending above the container and arranged in overlapping folds forming a substantially central locking tab and handle where the tobacco charge may be inserted into said bowl and whereby ashes and residue may be removed therefrom.

2. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary side wall material which encases the formed tobacco charge is cigarette type paper.

3. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary side wall material which encases the formed tobacco charge is tobacco leaf.

4. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein a short beveled section is provided between the charge seat and the enlarged pipe bowl cavity section.

rated with a plurality of holes.

k i i 

1. A tobacco pipe assembly comprising a vertically disposed bowl having a base and a stem and bit extending horizontally therefrom and a preformed tobacco charge adapted to be seated centrally within the base, said bowl having a wall having a plurality of holes therethrough and providing a relatively large cavity arranged above said seat in said base whereby said charge is spaced from said wall within said cavity, said charge having a relatively impermeable and combustible primary side wall forming a container and having a metal foil strip looped vertically therearound, said strip having a pair of ends extending above the container and arranged in overlapping folds forming a substantially central locking tab and handle where the tobacco charge may be inserted into said bowl and whereby ashes and residue may be removed therefrom.
 2. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary side wall material which encases the formed tobacco charge is cigarette type paper.
 3. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary side wall material which encases the formed tobacco charge is tobacco leaf.
 4. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein a short beveled section is provided between the charge seat and the enlarged pipe bowl cavity section.
 5. A tobacco pipe assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the metal foil strip which is locked in place vertically around the formed tobacco charge is perforated with a plurality of holes. 